Killyclooney fade late after promising promotion push

Killyclooney will look back on 2026 as a season of real promise, but also one of missed opportunity, after a strong promotion challenge faded during the closing stages of the Championship campaign.

For long periods the Tyrone side were firmly in the mix near the top of the table and looked capable of forcing their way into the promotion places. In the end, however, they were unable to maintain that momentum when it mattered most.

There was also frustration in the Sammy Jeffrey final, where Killyclooney matched Brigade in the first innings before falling away in the second. It was another example of a side showing they could compete with the best, only to come up short at the decisive moment.

South African professional Keenan Vieira enjoyed an outstanding season and was comfortably the club’s leading performer.

Vieira amassed 1,050 runs at an average of 52.50, including four centuries and five half-centuries, with an unbeaten 186 his highest score. He also struck 60 sixes and added 25 wickets at 25.00, including a five-wicket haul.

One of the most encouraging aspects of the season was the emergence of 15-year-old Alfie Moan.

Despite his age, Moan finished second in the club’s batting aggregates with 496 runs, including three half-centuries and a highest score of 93 not out. He also chipped in with nine wickets and showed enough maturity and ability to mark himself down as one of the young players of the year.

Cody Mehaffey contributed 483 runs and Timothy Dougherty 447, while the bowling was spread impressively across the side.

Dougherty led the wicket-taking with 33, followed by Jason Wallace with 31 and Mehaffey with 29. Giles Moan claimed 27 at an excellent average of 18.85, with Vieira taking 25.

That depth with the ball was one of Killyclooney’s strengths, although the batting remained heavily dependent on Vieira and, increasingly, young Moan.

The late-season fall-off will undoubtedly frustrate them, but the campaign still provided plenty of encouragement.

With Vieira producing at a consistently high level and younger talent emerging, Killyclooney have the foundations of a side capable of challenging again.

The task for 2027 will be to turn a strong first two-thirds of a season into a complete promotion campaign.

KILLYCLOONEY – TOP 10 BATTERS

1. Keenan Vieira – 1,050 runs, average 52.50, HS 186*, 4 hundreds, 5 fifties  
2. Alfie Alexander Moan – 496 runs, average 24.80, HS 93*, 3 fifties  
3. Cody Mehaffey – 483 runs, average 24.15, HS 74*, 3 fifties  
4. Timothy Dougherty – 447 runs, average 20.32, HS 53*, 1 fifty  
5. A Nicholl – 321 runs, average 16.05, HS 76, 1 fifty  
6. Giles Raymond Moan – 310 runs, average 19.38, HS 38*  
7. Mark Gordon – 189 runs, average 13.50, HS 49*  
8. Alan Colhoun – 162 runs, average 11.57, HS 44  
9. Jason Wallace – 159 runs, average 13.25, HS 47*  
10. Richard McMorris – 88 runs, average 12.57, HS 26  

KILLYCLOONEY – TOP 10 BOWLERS

1. Timothy Dougherty – 33 wickets, average 33.18, BBI 3-14  
2. Jason Wallace – 31 wickets, average 26.58, BBI 4-23  
3. Cody Mehaffey – 29 wickets, average 29.93, BBI 5-41  
4. Giles Raymond Moan – 27 wickets, average 18.85, BBI 4-76  
5. Keenan Vieira – 25 wickets, average 25.00, BBI 5-20  
6. Mark Gordon – 14 wickets, average 27.00, BBI 3-67  
7. Alfie Alexander Moan – 9 wickets, average 28.56, BBI 3-30  
8. Richard McMorris – 3 wickets, average 28.00, BBI 1-5  
9. Jordan William Nelson – 2 wickets, average 19.00, BBI 2-18  
10. Kyle Armstrong – 2 wickets, average 35.00, BBI 2-70